Folding apparatus



June l2, 1956 L. o. BRUNEAU ET AL FOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29 1951 June 12, 1956 o. BRUNEAU ETAL 2,750,186

FOLDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 agay.

June 12, 1956 1 o. BRUNI-:AU ETAL 2,750,186

FOLDING APPARATUS F1' led sept. 29. 1951 4 sheets-sheet z June 12, 1956 L. o. BRUNEAU ET Al. 2,750,186

v FOLDING APPARATUS Fi 18d Sept. 29. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I l l i I T FLDXNG APPARATUS Louis t). Bruneau, Cambridge, and Peter Boudreau,

Ariington, Mass., assignors to Profit Machinery Company, Inc., South Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 29, 195i, Serial No. 248,926

12 Claims. (Cl. E70-86) Our present invention relates generally to folding devices and more particularly to apparatus for folding fabric and other flexible webs and sheets, particularly articles such as towels, cloths, napkins and the like. The folder of the invention is one of that class having feeding means by which the articles are advanced in lay-dat condition first to a longitudinal folding section wherein they are folded lengthwise into overlapped plies and then to a cross folding section wherein the multi-ply form s laterally folded along one or more transverse lines as desired. lt is adapted specially for use with an article stacking device such as conventionally employed in the art, and forms a unitary apparatus in combination therewith in the embodiment shown and described herein.

Certain prior devices of this type have provided longitudinal folding blades movable only at right angles or normal to the direction of article travel, and requiring also interruption or stoppage of cloth travel coincident with the folding action. Such reciprocating folders have been found costly to construct and difficult to maintain. Further, their halting, jerky, discontinuous mode of operation limits the rate at which they may be said to fold efficiently and renders them ill-suited to applications such as the laundry field wherein volume of production has substantially greater economic significance than such considerations as uniformity and nicety of fold.

in another class of folders, the mentioned longitudinal or lengthwise fold has been effected by means of stationary curled folding plates or formers, relying on gravity rather than some sure, positive folding means. Articles which are relatively soft, flimsy or limp, due either to the character of the material or to the manner in which it has been dried, have been found to roll or crumble in such fixed folders instead of falling into a well ordered folded position. And articles which reach folders of this class in a substantially damp or wetcondition have been found to generate excessive friction at or stick tothe fixed folding surfaces. Still other prior folders have been characterized by a longitudinal folding mechanism substantially more elaborate and cumbersome than that of the types referred to, and have met with little or no commercial success.

The recited and other difficulties and disadvantages experienced with and characterizing prior art mechanisms are overcome and avoided by the present invention, which provides a folder characterized by a positive, certain longitudinal folding action which is effected without stoppage or interruption of the continuous advance of the articles to be folded. Other objects and advantages of the invention are adaptability to both hand and automatic feed and to sheet articles of varying size and weight, and also the elimination of costly and complicated pneumatic and/or electronic fittings. The apparatus of the invention is characterized still further by safety features by which the folder is stopped in the event of its failure successfully to fold an article, and by which articles fed united States Patent O e ice to the folder automatically, as from an ironer, are rejected when the folder is stopped.

The invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one illustrative embodiment of a folder according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side View on a larger scale of the entry end of the machine positioned as for automatic feed from an ironer, and illustrating the novel article rejecting means;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, toward the intake end;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to the upper portion of Fig. 4, illustrating successive operating positions of the folding blades;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cross folding section;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l and 2, a preferred embodiment of our novel folder is therein shown as incorporated in a folding and stacking machine including a receiving or feeding and rejecting section A, a longitudinal folding and advancing section B, a cross folding and delivering section C, and a stacking unit D, constructed and arranged in series along a continuous path of advance, preferably straight-away as shown. The machine as an integrated whole accordingly is adapted for continuous processing of the work, performing an essentially continuous operation on the articles or pieces to be folded and stacked, andthe latter traveling continuously from end to end of the machine under the improved method of the invention. The work flow is from right to left on the machine as viewed in Figs. l, 2, 3, 7 and 8, as indicated by the large arrow below Fig. l.

The machine has an elongate, generally rectangular frame it) formed of stringers, uprights or other supporting members 11 and may be enclosed at its sides and ends as by removable panels 12, protecting the operator and the control and operating mechanism and affording a neat and attractive appearance. The machine frame is further provided with wheeled supports 13 which are vertically adjustable to heights adapting it for both manual and automatic feed and which afford it desired portability.

Numerous features of the apparatus of our invention, whether employed with or without a final stacking unit such as D, specially adapt it for use in an article laundering operations wherein it is automatically supplied from a preceding article-treating device such as an ironer. In Fig. 3 we have sufficiently shown such ironer as having a wide belt or conveyor 14 carrying the foldable articles in lay-fiat condition over the large diametered press roll 15, under the tensioning roll 16, and over the delivery or discharge roll 17, whence they fall freely onto the generally horizontal surface provided by the article feeding and rejecting stage A of the folder. lt will be understood that such ironer or other precedent unit 14-17 may be of a width accommodating several lines or trains of articles, and that a like-numbered set or battery of folders may be provided for use with a single such ironer.

At the input or rear end of the machine the frame 1? extends cantilever fashion to define the receiving or feeding section A and a portion of the folding and advancing section B, Figs. l to 3. Said section A comprises longitudinal infeeding conveyor means in the form of endless belts. At the opposite sides of a central zone lengthwise of the machine the outer or side belts 18 and 19 extend the length of section A and but a relatively short distance onto the folder section B. One or more such belts 18 and 19 may be provided at each side of the central zone, depending on the maximum size of the work pieces for which the particular machine is intended, two being here shown, passing around guide rolls 20, 21 and 22 journaled on the frame. Along the central zone between the side belts 18 and 19 are other conveyor belts 23. These central belts 23 extend substantially the full length of the machine, preferably at least through sections A, B and C and up to the stacker means of section D. At section A the central belts 23 pass over the same rolls 2t), 21 which carry the side belts 18, 19. The central belts 23 however continue on forwardly along the machine, over drive and guide rolls 29,' 30, 31, with the under returning runs passing rearwardly to and beneath the roll 22 at section A again commonly with the side belts 18, 19.

In accordance with the invention, the receiving and feeding section A is importantly further provided with novel article-rejecting barrier or by-pass means such as illustrated in Figs, l to 3. Such means comprises in a presently preferred embodiment a set of generally triangular longitudinally extending wire loops 24 normally in inactive position below the advancing runs of the belts; Fig. 2 and the full-line position of Fig. 3. The individual wires 24 of this rejector element are disposed in the spaces between the belts 1S, 19, 23 and are commonly mounted on or more particularly passed through a cross or pivot rod 25 carried by vertical arms 26 rigidly supported fro-m the shaft of the belt roll 20. It is adapted to be tilted to an active raised position as in the broken-line position of Fig. 3, in which the wires 24 present a receiving and barring surface inclined on the order of 45 to the horizontal, or such as to cause unfolded articles received thereon to be rejected, falling by gravity clear of the machine, as into a receptacle R. Tilting of this rejector element is effected by a solenoid 27 on the machine frame, energized in a manner to be described. The armature 27 of the solenoid is connected by a pivoted link 28 to a crank arm 25 which is rigidly coupled to the pivot rod 25 as for rotating the same. Except when the solenoid 27 is energized the rejector drops of its own weight to the inactive lowered position of Fig. 3, see also Figs. 1 and 2, in which the wires 24 may rest on a limiting stop rod 24'.

Considering now the folder section B, Figs. 1, 2 and 4 to 6, and its relation to the in-feed section A and the others, the outer belts 18, 19 of section A, as already noted, feed only to the longitudinal folding section B. The central ribbons 23, however, take part also in the folding operation in that they support and continuously advance the articles through the succeeding longitudinal and cross folding sections B, C. In this connection the provision of continuous contactive support and advance of the articles throughout the folding operations is an important feature of the invention. To repeat, the endless belt means 23 extends the full length of the machine, and uninterruptedly supports and advances the articles over the rolls Ztl-21, 21-29 and 29-30 embracing the infeeding, longitudinal advancing and folding and cross folding sections A, B, C respectively. The lower runs of the belts 23 return over one or more idler rolls 31. Any preferred drive for the article-advancing belts may be utilized, as for example, an electric motor 32 indicated in Fig. 2 as driving roll 29 through a reduction gear 33.

The main longitudinal folder section B is centrally traversed by the continuously movable central belt 23 as above described. It further comprises, along at least one and preferably each side of the belt series 23 and paralleling the latter, a stationary shelf-like elongate longitudinal slideway, supporting guide rail or plate 34 and 35. These extend uninterruptedly along the folder section B, laterally adjacent the belt series 23 and at an upper level vertically spaced above them. These slideways 34, 35 provide supporting riding surfaces for longitudinal marginal portions of the articles to be folded.

At the entering end of section B, at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, the lateral belts 18, 19 extend below the adjacent entry ends of the slideways 34, 3S. The latter are downturned to bring the transverse edges into close proximity to said side belts 18, 19, there providing inclines 34a, 35a smoothly directing the corresponding marginal 'widths of the in-fed articles up onto the riding surfaces of the slideways 34, 35. lf desired this pick-up and elevation of the article margins may be assisted by supplemental guides or rear extensions of the slideways 34, 35 in the spaces between adjacent units of the side belt series 18 and 19. The plates 34, 35 may have considerable lateral extent, as desirable for accommodating articles of substantial and varying width, and may extend down at the sides of the machine to merge integrally or otherwise with the side panels 12, 12.

Along the central zone of section B the corresponding non-elevated widths of the work articles travel continuously along upon and with the central belts 23 but beneath a central slideway or overlying guide element 36- 37, sometimes referred to herein as the lower way, constructed and arranged to offer a minimum of retardant friction surface to the article portion in uninterrupted advance on the belts 23 below it. At the same time said lower way or slideway 36-37 serves to prevent slippage of the articles during their continued advance through the longitudinal folding operation, by augmenting the frictional engagement of the articles on the upper surfaces of the advancing belts 23 while itself presenting no appreciable resistance to such advance.

Such lower slideway means in the illustrated preferred embodiment comprises a set of belt-paralleling flexible rods or wires 36, Figs. l and 4 to 6, preferably at least one for each ribbon or belt member 23, carried atvthe under face of an elongate flexible plate or strip 37, as in channels or inverted V-seetion guide ribs 37a therein, with the lower half-sections of the wires 36 protuberant below the plate 37. The latter is positionally held only at the rear or entering end of section B where it is upturned and attached to an arch 38 there transversely straddling the machine, see particularly Figs. 2 and 4. Elsewhere throughout its full length, which is substantially coextensive with section B, this flexible plate 37 and the underslung wires 36 on it are mechanically free. Further, the flexible structure and the rear end attachment of this slideway or lower guide element 36-37 are such that it yieldingly presses down by gravity and inherent spring tension upon the central belts 23 and the articles thereon. As evident in Figs. l and 4 to 6 this lower guide element 36*37 lies longitudinally between the upper lateral slide.- ways 34 and 35, paralleling and in close laterally spaced relation to them but vertically spaced substantially below them, as determined by the belts 23. Also as apparent from Figs. 4 to 6 the longitudinal edges of this lower slideway element 36-37 aid in locating the one or more longitudinal folds to be applied to the articles by the cooperating movable folder means to be described, said element thus having a forming function along with the guiding and advanceinsuring action. The described arrangement is thus one which increases the static friction between the belts 23 and the articles carried thereby, as desired for positive, continuous advance of the latter through the folder section, while itself offering a minimum article-engaging or frictional surface at either the under or the upper faces of the element 36-37, by reason of the guide wires 36 below and the narrow ribs 37a above.

A further important feature of the invention is the novel construction and arrangement of longitudinal folding means, whereby the articles are folded in a sure, positive manner without stopping or even slowing their rapid, smooth and continuous advance through the folder section. Stated more particularly, the longitudinal folding action is one in which the folding members are brought in predetermined sequence from beneath the margin elevating plates 34, 35 into operative position over the articles and are then driven in a path generally paralleling armies the direction of article travel, whereby they characteristically brush or sweep the articles'through the folding stage while effectively foldingl marginal article portions over onto the llower central slideway element 36-37. For this purpose the longitudinal folder section B of the machine further comprises vlengthwise staggered, horizontal, elongate folding blades 39, 40 movably mounted adjacent and paralleling the belts 23 at an intermediate level, that is, in a plane above that of belts 23 and the lower slideway 36-37 but below that of the articlemargin elevating plates or upper slideways 34, Said blades 39, d@ are in accordance with the invention constructed and arranged for self-parallel, rotary or orbital sequential article-folding movement. They each are caused to cycle through a closed path of movement including the initial or inactive position indicated in Fig. 4 and the subsequent or sequential first and second folding positions of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring, again more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 to 6 the folder blades 39, 4t) are there shown to be supported and actuated each by a pair of upstanding frame-mounted rotary holder shafts 41, 42 and 43, 44 bearing crank arms 41a, 42a and 43a, 44a respectively, and having oppositely extending counterbalance masses 41h, 42h and 43h, 441;. The outer ends of the crank arms are formed with bearing sockets 41e, 42e, and 43e, 44e rotatably supporting stud shafts 39a, 39a, and 40a, dita affixed to outer marginal portions of the folder blades 39, 40 at longitudinally spaced locations thereon. The blade actuating shafts of each pair dii-A2 and i3-44 are mechanically coupled for unison movement as by drive chains 45 and i6 passing around horizontal sprockets on the respective shaft pairs.

Further in accordance with the invention the orbitally movable folder blades 39, di) are positioned and operatively coupled for article-folding movement in a predetermined regular timed relation and in non-interfering uniform sequence. A simple `and efficient arrangement for driving the blades in the desired manner is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising a two-part shaft 47a, 47h driven off the shaft 33 of reduction gear 33 (see Fig. 2) as by a chain 47. A one-revoiution clutch 48 between the two parts of the shaft 47a, 47h is controlled by an arm 49 rocked about a fixed pivot Sti by the spring Sll and solenoid 52, in a manner to be described. ln the engaged position of the clutch 48 shown in Fig. 4 shaft 43 is directly driven through bevel gearing connection with the clutch shaft 47h, while shaft 41 at the other side of the machine is simultaneously driven, oppositely, through a cross shaft 53 and pinion pairs drivingly connecting it with the shafts 43 and 4l. Thus when the solenoid 52 is energized to throw the clutch 48 into engagement, the folder-plate shaft pairs 41, 42 and 43, 44 are oppositely driven in unison through a single complete revolution; as viewed in Fig. l the shafts 41, 42 at the right of the machine, facing in the feed direction, turn clockwise and the shafts d3, dd at the other or left side rotate counterclockwise.

While the blade-actuating supports are thus constructed and arranged for conjoint rotation, the movement of the blades 39, 4i) themselves through the article-engaging portions of their respective operating cycles is sequential, or in series, one following or lagging the other by a predetermined, constant interval. This follow up or series characteristic of the longitudinal folding action is dependent on the orientation of the crank arm pairs dln, i2-ir: and 43a, 44a, having in regard also the direction of rotation of the corresponding shafts dll, 42 and 43, 4d. The folder blade which is nearer to the entry end of the folder section B, shown as right-hand blade 39, is thus caused to act appropriately in advance of the other folder blade, the left-hand blade 4t) which is offset lengthwise toward the output end of the machine. In other words, the crank arms dln, 42a for the first blade 39 have in their initial or rest position a certain selected angular setting about the axes' of their shafts 41, 42 measured for example with respect to a radius toward and normal to the line of article travel, requiring somewhat more than a quarter-rotation, say travel clockwise for them to reach said normal radial position. T hen the crank arms 43a, Lift-a for the other folder blade 40, the one nearer the output end of the folder section B, are set at a predeterminedly greater angle behind a like normal radial position, requiring for example similarly in execess of a half-rotation, or a turn, counter-clockwise, for them to reach such position toward and normal to the article travel line.

The desired time delay or lag between the application of the blades to the foldable articles is dependent on two variables, namely, the speed of the belts, or of article travel, and the spacing of the folder blades 39, 46 along the line of article advance. There will thus be a particular lag appropriate to any given combination of article speed and blade spacing. It is contemplated that a further consideration may be involved in certain applications. Although the present invention is not so limited, simplicity and uniformity of design and also desired balance and smoothness in operation of the apparatus is enhanced by mounting the blades 39, 40 at the same elevation. Where in addition the blades are proportioned and arranged to extend across the median of the lower-level slideway or plate 37 at the point of their maximum advance over the same, the orientation of the arms must be such as to insure non-interference of the blades, or to order retraction of the one coincident with the advance of the other. It may for example be that illustrated in the drawing, whereby while the blade 39 is moving in a path paralleling the direction of article movement the blade 4t) is undergoing maximum translation in a direction normal thereto.

t will be recalled that the advance of the articles through the longitudinal folding section is rapid and continuous, and that the same central belts 23 which pick up the articles at the feeding section A carry them through the longitudinal folding section B just described to and also through the cross folding section C.

As indicated severally in Figs. l, 2, 7 and 8, the cross folding section C comprises driving and cross fold rolls 29, 54 which may be spring urged, as for conjoint contactive rotation, or which may be mechanically coupled as by the gears 29a, 54a. The longitudinally folded articles are thrust downwardly between these article creasing and pressing rolls 29, 54 in known manner by the pivoted cross fold blade 55, as ordered by solenoid 56, Fig. 2, which may be energized to overcome the force of the blade elevating spring 57 compressed between a fixed frame-carried bushing and a like bearing element carried on the solenoid armature-shaft 53.

This cross folding section C further comprises means for insuring advance and support of initial or leading portions of the articles over the rolls 29, 54 prior to the depression of the cross fold blade 55. As best seen from Figs. 7 and 8 a transverse plate 59 underlying the belts 23 supports a set of longitudinal fingers 60 projecting forwardly intermediate said belts 23 and over the driving roll 29, desirably terminating in downturned portions as at 60a for facilitating downward deflection of the articles in the cross folding operation. Beyond and coplanar with the fingers 6h is a rearwardly extending article supporting plate 61 which has a lateral edge 61a turned down over the exposed face of the cross-fold roll S4. It will be readily apparent that the longitudinally folded articles are cleared by the fingers 60 from the belts 23 as the latter pass downwardly about the driving roll 29, and that the rapid advance of the articles is such as to give them suilicient momentum to carry on across the gap between the fingers 6i) and the plate 61.

ln the operation of cross-folding section C the timing of the energization of the solenoid 56 is controlled for depression of the transverse blade 55 against the articles at the desired point in their advance across the rolls 29, 53 in a manner to be described. The articles are passed through the mentioned rolls by the belts 23 in cooperation with the rolls themselves and are advanced through this section C to the stacking device D. If desired, a laterally anged chute 62, Fig. 2, may be utilized to center or guide the articles on the belts 23 while passing through this crossfolding section.

Further in accordance with the invention, the folder is provided with simple and eicient control and operating means, along with special safety devices now to be described. Referring now more particularly to wiring diagram, Fig. 9, the folder is placed in operation by closing the line switch 63 and pressing the starter button 64 whereby to energize relay 65 and start the motor 32, drivwing the belts 1S, 19, 23 as described. It will be recalled that the apparatus is adapted to be supplied either manually, as by an operator, or automatically, as by the ironer of Fig. 3. In either case the articles are placed or dropped on the belts 18, 19, 23 in feeding stage A, and are then advanced rapidly and in lay-flat condition to the longitudinal folding section B. Central article portions there pass under the lower slideway or friction plate 37, and outer or marginal article portions ride up over the ixed margin-elevating side slideways or plates 34, 35. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the articles are thereby positively formed into a shallow U-form channel having a horizontal lower or base portion and one or more wing or flange portions supported at the lower and upper levels defined by said slideways, and having vertical portions or legs extending vertically across the intermediate level of the folding blades. In other words, the articles are slidably supported and positioned for longitudinal folding in section B by engagement over and under fixed slide surfaces 34, 35, 37 and have only tieeting contact with the moving folder elements or blades 39, 40, and that only for the folding action proper.

lt will be readily apparent that the arrangement just described permits the heretofore mentioned rapid, smooth, and uninterrupted advance of the articles during the longitudinal folding operation. Such operation is initiated by engagement of the articles with the finger switches 66, 67 which are respectively normally closed and normally open (Fig. 9). These switches as seen in Fig. l are disposed in the path of article advance into the folder section B. The articles upon lay-flat advance to section B, are seen first to engage and open switch 66, and then, while holding switch 66 open, advance to, engage and close switch 67. lt is only until the trailing edge of the article has advanced beyond switch 66, freeing it for automatic return to its normal closed position, that the circuit is completed, the folder solenoid 52 energized, and the folder-drive clutch 4S is engaged to cycle the folder-blade shaft pairs 41, 42 and 43, 44 through one revolution. Thereby the tirst folder blade 39 is gyrated in its orbital path from the initial position of Figs. 1 and 4 to that of Fig. 5, immediately upon the advance of an article to a position opposite thereto. As already described, the movement of the second fold blade 40 to the position indicated in Fig. is delayed by an interval corresponding to article advance through a distance equal to the blade spacing lengthwise of the machine. The engagement of the blades with the articles is at the described vertical legs of the central U-troughed portion, which are thrust reversely over the lower-level base portion of the article and over the lower central slideway 37. The channel wing portions of the articles are initially folded reversely over and carried inwardly on the upper blade surfaces (Fig. 5). The impetus of the blade thrust serves to snap said wing portions over into extended layliat position as in Fig. 6.

It is here again pointed out that both the unique threelevel disposition and sliding guidance of the article supporting means and the rotary action of the folder means 8 are essential to the high speed continuous, non-stop mode of operation by which the present invention is novelly characterized. it will be apparent that the longitudinal folder blades 39, 49, when moving in phases characterized by maximum translation and minimum advance axially of the apparatus, are disengaged from the articles. The blades are thus in contact with the articles only when moving through an arcuate path portion which generally parallels the direction of article travel, when the blades are being driven forward with the articles themselves. This article engaging path portion is seen more particularly to be one which is bisected by a radius normal to the belts 23, and thus to have a mean tangent lying exactly parallel to said direction of article travel. And under the invention, the speed of rotation of the folderblade shafts 41-44 is regulated to drive the blades at a speed having a belt paralleling linear function at least equal to and preferably greater than the speed of the articles. The blades 39, 40 thus offer no frictional or other resistance to the rapid continuous advance of the articles, serving rather to urge, thrust or impel them along with a brushing or sweeping stroke.

It will be readily appreciated that the folder of the invention is adapted for use with articles of varying length, width and texture, and that the speed of the folder drive'may be adjusted relative to the speed of the supply thereto, whether manual or automatic, for desired spacing of the articles in the longitudinal folding section B. Moreover the articles may be positioned laterally of the apparatus for folding along any desired longitudinal line or lines, as for example along but a single central or median line as readily as along the two equi-spaced lines suggested by the drawing. Such fold adaptation and adjustment is readily had by varying the position of the foldactuator switches 66, 67, the active width of lower slideway or guide element 37, and the speed of the infeed and advancing belts 18, 19 and 23.

In passing to the cross folding stage C the longitudinally folded articles are carried ahead over the iingers and along plate 61 to engagement with a vertically extending linger switch 68 (Figs. 2 and 7) whereby solcnoid 56 is energized to depress cross-folding blade 55 between the rolls 29, 54, as already described. It will be understood that such switch 68 may be adjusted along the plate 61 as required for center folding of articles of varying length. The laterally folded articles are then pulled off the blade 55 and clamped between the cross folder roll 54 and the belts 23, which latter are pressed against the former by driving roll 29, so as to crease or set both the longitudinal and the lateral or cross folds. The fully folded articles are then advanced by the belts 23 to the stacking unit D in the manner earlier noted.

The novel article rejecting means of section A is actuated in accordance with the invention automatically upon the inadvertent advance of an unfolded article through section B. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 article engaging finger switch means 69 is disposed adjacent the inner edge of one or both the slideways or riding plates 34, 35 at the exit end of the section, or so as to engage a longitudinal margin or wing portion of the article should it pass beyond the lower slideway or bottom guide 37 without being turned over the same by the corresponding folder blade 39 or 40. The automatic actuation of this normally closed safety switch 69 as seen from Fig. 9 breaks the starting circuit, stops the belts 18, 19, 23, and energizes by-pass actuating solenoid 27, whereupon the rejecting barrier 24-25 is raised in the manner already described.

ln further accordance with the invention, the by-pass or rejector control is connected for energization coincident with stoppage of the machine, or motor 32, for whatever cause. More particularly, and as indicated in Fig. 9, when the line switch 63 is thrown on preparatory to placing the machine in operation the autoavertis@ matic by-pass solenoid 27 is energized, but the remainder of the machine remains inoperative. This prevents inadvertent deposit of an article on the infeedy section A before the machine is actively ready, or discharges anything left there after a previous run of the machine. When starter button 64 is then pushed to start the motor 32, the automatic by-pass is de-energized. Now should the operator stop the motor, as byactuation of stop button 7i? positioned with starting button 64 at the start-stop control station, solenoid 27 will again be energized to raise the article-rejecting barrier 24-25.

Rapid manual actuation of the by-pass may be additionally facilitated by locating one or more push buttons, as at 71, Fig, 9, at positions convenient to the operator. It will be noted that these further manual control devices may be utilized for rejection of any desired number of articles through any desired interval irrespective of the condition of the article advancing and folding means, or without stopping the motor 32 and belts 18, 19, 23. Visual indication of the belt stoppage and by-pass actuation may also be provided, as by the bulb 72 indicated on the arch 38. Thus under the invention the break down or clogging of the machine by unfolded or accumulated articles may be effectively prevented by both automatic and manual means.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that we have provided a folder which is singularly simple and efficient in design and construction. As herein disclosed the folder is characterized more importantly by a continuous smooth high-speed mode of operation wherein the articles have uninterrupted support and travel on unitary article advancing means through the entire folding operation. This continuous, high-speed folding operation, by which the folder is made specially advantageous for laundering and the like applications, has been shown to depend further on the unique rotary sweeping action of the longitudinal folding blades, engaging the articles only in that phase of their orbital path which generally parallels the direction of article travel. The disclosed control and safety features, including particularly means whereby articles are automatically rejected on malfunctioning or stoppage of the machine, further contribute to the improved eiliciency of the machine.

Our invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof illustrated and described herein, and we set forth its scope in my following claims.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles cornprising an elongate frame having parallel horizontal slideways at the sides thereof, a riding plate element intermediate and below said ways; means for continuous advance of central article portions beneath said plate element and marginal article portions over said ways, parallel longitudinally extensive folding means positioned beneath said ways and movable in a rotary path overlapping said plate element only while generally parallel thereto, and means for actuating said folding means for movement in said rotary path and whereby to infold said marginal article portions and simultaneously to impel the articles in the direction of the continuous advance.

2. The structure of claim l, wherein the folding means at the respective sides of the plate element are spaced lengthwise along it, and means for timing the actuation of said means to overlap the plate element upon article advance to apposition therewith.

3. Apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles, comprising substantially horizontal upper and lower longitudinal slideways in parallel laterally adjacent and vertically spaced relation for guiding adjacent longitudinal portions of the articles along and over the upper way and along and under the lower way, endless conveyor means for continuously advancing the articles in said guided relation, an elongated folder blade operable in a horizontal plane at a level intermediate the slideways between a rest position beneath the upperv slideway andz an, active position overlapping the lower sldeway, support means for said blade, actuating means for periodically moving the folder blade between said positions orbitally in self-parallelism through a longitudinal folding and advance-assisting engagement with an advancing article.

4. Apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles comprising a central slide member disposed at a lower level, side slide members fixed atan upper level, said members having mutually parallel article engaging edges, means for continuously feeding the articles lengthwise under the central and over the side members respectively, longitudinal folding means movable at an intermediate level inwardly and forwardly through an orbital path from and to an inactive position underlying the side members, and means for actuating said folding means for movement in said orbital path and to infold the sidemember-overpassing longitudinal portions of the articles while assisting the continuous feed thereof.

5. Laundry apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles comprising an endless conveyor adapted for continuous support and advance of central article portions, flexible guide means floating on the conveyor for promoting article engagement thereon during such continuous advance, elongate stationary side members paralleling the conveyor and having article margin supporting surfaces elevated above said floating guide means, elongate parallel-acting folding elements beneath said side members, pivotal supports for said elements, and means for gyrating said folding elements in an endless path overlapping said guide means only in a part generally paralleling the same whereby to urge said articles in said continuous advance while longitudinally infolding them.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the folding elements at the respective sides of the guide means are spaced along the line of article advance and means for timing their actuation for movement through said path part upon article juxtaposition therewith.

7. The structure of claim 5, wherein said article engagement promoting means comprises, in combination, a flexible guide plate suspended at the end adjacent the receiving end of the conveyor for flexure and gravity thrust upon articles on the conveyor and having at the under face a set of longitudinal laterally spaced guide wires for friction minimizing contact with the articles.

S. The structure of claim 7, wherein the guide plate is provided with longitudinal ribs of inverted hollow V-section, the guide wires being carried in protuberant position in the hollows of the ribs and the peaks of the latter have friction-reducing supportive contact with the infolds of the article.

9. Laundry apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles comprising conveyor means adapted for continuous contactive support and advance of central article portions, guide means overlying said conveyor for resiliently urging said portions downwardly thereagainst, means along the respective sides of the conveyor means for elevating and supporting longitudinal marginal article portions above said central guide means, longitudinal folding elements beneath the respective elevating and supporting means, pivotal supports for said elements, and means for gyratively moving said longitudinal folding elements to infold the marginal article portions over the central article portions and to thrust the articles in the direction of said continuous advance.

l0. The structure of claim 9, wherein the folding elements at the respective sides are staggered along the conveyor means, and means for sequentially gyrating the folding elements in time with arrival of the articles thereat.

1l. Apparatus for folding flexible sheet articles comprising a central element having a lower slide surface, side elements having upper slide surfaces above said lower surface, said lower and upper slide surfaces having mutually parallel article engaging edges, means for contnuous advance of central and marginal article portions along said lower and upper surfaces respectively, folding members beneath said side elements revolving in an endless path overlapping said central element only in an edge paralleling part of such movement, and means for actuating said folding members in said path and for longitudinal folding and lengthwise advancing engagement with element-intervening article portions.

12. Folding apparatus for exible fabric articles comprising an article conveyor adapted for continuous support and advance of central article portions, resilient means overlying said conveyor for yieldably urging said portions thereagainst, side members paralleling said conveyor and having surfaces slidably supporting marginal article portions at a level above said resilient means, folding elements beneath the respective side members and movable over said resilient means in a path generally parallel to said conveyor, and means for actuating said folding elementswhereby to fold the marginal article p0rtions over said central portions and also to positively brush the articles in the direction of said continuous advance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,791 Mayer June 24, 1930 2,282,126 Gabbert May 5, 1942 2,403,394 Preston July 2, 1946 2,442,431 Peters et al. June 1, 1948 2,545,798 Sjostrom Mar. 20, 1951 2,549,386 Reigh Apr. 17, 1951 2,579,746 Malott Dec. 25, 1951 

